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Belinda Wong, president Starbucks China, serves coffee to Starbucks Beijing customers as part of the celebration for its 500th store in China. (Photo: Business Wire)

October 25, 2011 12:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time

BEIJING--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ: SBUX) today celebrated the opening of
its 500th store in China. Belinda Wong, president, Starbucks
China, joined Starbucks partners (employees) and customers in Beijing,
for this momentous occasion. The Starbucks China 500th store
is located at the international departure hall of the Beijing Capital
International Airport Terminal 3. It is also Starbucks 7th
store in China’s largest and busiest airport. As part of the
celebration, Starbucks customers in Beijing were treated to a ‘coffee
break’ in appreciation for their loyalty to the Starbucks brand and the
company’s continued commitment to growth in China.

“The opening of our 500th store in China is a significant
milestone in our ambitious growth plans to serve our customers through
1,500 stores by 2015,” said Wong. “We firmly believe that each Starbucks
store is unique to our partners, customers and the community. Delivering
the Starbucks Experience in ways that exceed customers’
expectations in every one of our locations is critical to our continued
success.”

Over the past year, Starbucks has successfully entered more than 10 new
markets in China, serving millions of new customers monthly. The stores
in these new markets have been well-accepted by the local customers and
community.

“As we continue to accelerate our growth momentum in 2012, we also
recognize that the best success is shared success. Our partners are at
the heart and soul of the Starbucks Experience we deliver to our
customers every day,” added Wong.

“The Starbucks brand continues to resonate with the Chinese consumer,”
stated John Culver, president, Starbucks China and Asia Pacific. “As we
open more stores and reach more customers throughout China we will stay
true to the foundation that has built our success, including providing
the highest quality arabica coffee, handcrafted beverages, and an
exceptional experience, one customer at a time.”

The Starbucks 500th store celebration was held at the
Starbucks Full Link store in Beijing’s central business district with
Starbucks customers and partners. This newly renovated store showcases
Starbucks new store design concept in China, which aims to create an
authentic, yet locally-relevant, Starbucks Experience. The store
features the seamless fusion of Chinese and western design elements,
integrating Starbucks coffee heritage and expertise with that of China’s
distinctive cultural heritage. This balance of Starbucks heritage and
local relevance is paramount to Starbucks mission to further elevate
Starbucks third place experience for its customers in China.

For the past 12 years, Starbucks has not only been a symbol of China’s
rapid urban development, but also for its customer: the authentic coffee
culture, genuine moments of connection between its partners and
customers, and unique Starbucks Experience have come to embody a
new modern lifestyle pursuit and aspiration.

Starbucks today operates more than 800 stores across Greater China, with
500 stores on the mainland, across 42 cities.

About Starbucks

Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically
sourcing and roasting the highest-quality arabica coffee in the
world. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier
roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our
unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring
the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer
through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our
stores or online at www.starbucks.com.